Knitting-needle unit



J F. W ILCOMBJ KNITTING NEEDLE UNIT. APPLICATlON FILED AP'RKIZ, 1919.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

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JEtanIc Wlcmnl,

J F. WILCOIMB.

KNITTING NEEDLE UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, I919.

1,391,033. PatentedSept. 20, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In uentor J: Fran]: Wi Zcomb,

J F. WILCOMB.

KNITTING NEEDLE UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. \2, 1919..

w m MA j ham I F. WILCOMB.

KNITTING NEEDLE UNIT.

APPLICATION r1120 APR. 12, 1919.

PatentedSept. 20, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventor:

JHanIc Vfilcomb,

, pwadoww Aft y? J F. WILCOMB.

KNITTING NEEDLE UNIT.

APPLICATION man APR. 12, 1919.

1,391,033. 7 Patentedsept- 20, 1921.

5 MEETS-SHEETS.

In Benton J Han]: Mlcomb, I w %MZ,@MJOA %G UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J FRANK WILCOMB, 0E NORRISTOWN, PENNSYL ANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 'ro SPARTAN NEEDLE COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE-ISLAND, A con- PORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

KNITTING-NEEDLE 'UNIT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

Application filed April 12, 1919. Serial No. 289,691.

To a whom it may concern Be it known that I, J. FRANK \ViLcoMn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Norristown, Pennsylvania. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Needle l nits, of which the followin is a specification.

Iy invention comprises an improved knitting instrument or needle unit designed to perform all the knitting functions of which either latch needles, or spring beard needles,

are capable While avoiding the objectionable features of each of these types of knitting needles.

The invention also includes the machine organization cooperating with the improved needle unit for carrying on the knitting oper ation.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 shows the knitting instrument or unit and bart of the fabric.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the needle unit illustrating its capacity for operation by hand and showing it in connection with a portion of the fabric being knit.

Fig. 2 is a view of the needle unit with the coacting elements thereof in a position and relation assumed by them following the rela tive position of- Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the next step in the knitting operation.

Fig. 4 illustrates the next step following '1 that of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates the next step the coacting elements of the needle unit having returned to the position and relation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view of that one of thecoacting members of the needle unit which I designate as the hooked yarn drawing element.

Fig. 7 is a view of the other coacting member of the needle unit which I designate as the loop spreading and hook guarding element and which I also refer to herein as the sheath or quill.

Fig. 7 a is a view of a stop member forming a part of the quill.

Fig. 7 b is an end view of the stop member and quill.

Fig. 7 is a rear View of the quill.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the quill blank.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View of the stem of the hooked yarn drawing instrument showing the groove in the back thereof and the nose of the quill buried therein.

Fig. 8 is a view of a modification of the hooked yarn drawing member of the needle unit.

Fig. 9 is a view of another modificationof the hooked member.

Fig. 10 is a view of a circular knitting machine partly in section and partly in elevatlon with a single row of knitting needle units.

Fig. 11 is'a plan view 'of the machine of Fi 10.

*ig. 12 shows a developed view of the cams for operating the coacting members of the needle unit, this view being diagrammatic in character.

In the particular embodiment of the invention which I have chosen for illustrating its characteristics and its mode of operation, but which is not to be regarded as limiting its scope to the specific form shown, a hooked yarn drawing element 1, is employed having a hook 3, a throat 4, a stem, a butt 5 and a shank 6. The hook 3 is made up of the bend at the nose and the extended non-flexible beard, the throat being the reduced part below the hook. Cooperating with this element is what I term, for convenience, but not in a limiting sense, a quill or sheath 2. This in its best form is of channel shape in cross section, having thin parallel side Wallsreceiving sli dably between them the hooked yarn drawing element. This quill or sheath is designed to spread the old loop on both sides and over the top of the hook of the yarn drawing element, and it is also designed to guard the hook while the opened or spread loop is moved thereupon for cast ing ofl. For the loop spreading action, the quill may assume different formations, but the one illustrated herein presents substantial advantages inherent thereto in that it has a pointed nose 7 lying at the back of the yarn drawing element. Here the loop supported on the throat of the yarn drawing element presents its normal 0 ening in condition to be safely penetratedb the pointed nose to initiate the loop sprea ing or opening action, which then continues progressively in a direction from the back of the stem of the hooked yarn drawing element toward the front or supported end of the loop as will hereinafter appear. From this nose the edges of the side walls rise at 8 on an incline to the hump or swell 9, which is followed by edges reversely inclined in re spect to the incline at 8, this portion 10 being termed a drop leading to a depression, termed a throat 11. Then comes the stem 12, which connects with higher side walls 13.

forming a base portion which terminates with a lateral extension forming the quill butt 14. Between the high walls 13 a block 15 is fixed by rivets 1G and this block is termed a stop. It has a butt portion conforming substantially to the butt 14, and it is of less height than the walls 13 to afford a continuation of the channel, of the quill, for receiving the shank of the needle member.

Thestop 15 may be brazed, or welded into place, and it may be of any suitable form that will stiffen the walls of the quill. It need not necessarily act as a stop for the butt of the yarn drawing element.

The two members of the needle unit are operated by cams, one for each set of said members, and these cams act on the butts of the members.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 which show the needle unit or knitting instrument in the different positions assumed by its members in relation to the knitting plane. (indicated by the line aa) during the knitting operation Fig. 1 shows the unit in its retracted position with the loop hanging in the hook of the yarn drawing member of the unit.

Fig. 2 represents the hooked varn drawing member as having advanced in relation to the quill to open the hook for receiving the new yarn. Fig. 3 shows the needle member further advanced but followed up by the quill to maintain substantially the same relation to each other, as in Fig. 2, but the quill has passed into the old loop, and this has ridden up the iiicline 8 over the swell and has lodged in the throat of the quill. The new yarn has been supplied to the throat of the hooked yarn drawing member and the parts are then retracted to the osition and relation shown in Fig. 4, the liook thus having been closed by its beard entering between the walls of the swell so that the old loop may be cast, which is done when the parts, continuing their retraction while in the relation of Fig. 4, have reached the position of Fig. 5 which is the same as that of Fig. -1.

As compared with the ordinary 'latch needles the new needle unit avoids the use of the latch, the riveton which the latch pivots, the thin walls on either side of the atch, and in a machine using them latch guards, and latch openers are not required and the manufacture of the needle units is simpler than that of latch needles.

As compared with spring beard needles the new needle unit avoids the objections due to crystallization of beards, side deflection of beards, fatigue causing dead beards, and needle pressers are dispensed with.

The new needle unit may .be employed in machines of the latch needlet pe constructed either for ribbed work witi two rows of needles, or flat work of the single row of needle style, with very slight changes in needle operating cams. The needle may be used for stocking knitting, where picks are employed to suspend the knitting act-ion of certain needles at intervals. Sinkers may also be used either for ribbed work using two rows of needles, or flat work made on singlerows of needles. Provision for dividing the new sunk yarn and the old, or fabric loop, is reduced to a simple, safe, reliable mechanical action, while in the case of spring beard needles division of the yarns has hereto fore been largely a matter of skillful adjustment by a knitting expert. Deflection sidewise. of needle beards, has always been a cause of trouble with spring beard needles. The new needle has no flexible part liable to side deflection. Crystallization and also deadening of the beards, due to successive depressions by the presser wheels. bars, or the individual pressers (whichever is used) is entirely overcomethere is no bending action in any part of the new needle, and presser devices are dispensed with.

The throat of the hooked yarn drawing member is smallerand thinner than that of ordinary needles by just the thickness of the quill walls. The depth and thickness of the quill swell can be exactly the same as like dimensions of standard latch and spring needles...All loops as a matter of course must pass over the largest part of a needle. That is to say over the hook and closed latch of the latch needle. A loop large enough to, pass over the hump or swell of the quill will hang on the throat of the hooked yarn drawing member in the form of a loose loop, and a relatively large or normal opening will be exposed at the back of the stem of the yarn drawing member into which the quill nose can pass freely, see Fig. 2. The construction of hook shown in Fig. 9 is illustrated also in Fig. 1*, where the tip of the hook is shown at 30.

The following table gives a comparison of my improved needle with that of an ordinary latch needle as to dimensions and length of travel.

Comparison table.

Fig. 8 shows a large bent hook suitable for direct fed machines, where each needle draws its own loop of yarn, and knots or bunches are allowed free passage therethi ough. A

quill is used with this hooked yarn drawing member but is not shown.

Fig. 9 shows a sinker fed hooked yarn drawing member to be used with a quill of substantially the form above described. The hook of this yarn drawing member is too small to allow two yarns to dispute their right to first place i. c. against the inner side of the .nosethat is. the tip 3()-of the hook. No rendering of yarn in the needle should oe allowable. in any sinker fed machine. The sinkers supply the yarn and the needles simply draw the supply into the fabric as in ordinary practice. If two. ,or more. yarns are held snugly by a needle member. such as illustrated in Fig. 9, and not allowed to render or curl out of place. plating becomes a simple matter. and this is accomplished by the hooked member shown. The sinker is shown at 23.

Referring to Fig. 12 the cam path for the butts of the hooked yarn drawing members is shown at 24: that for the butts of the quills at 25. and that for the friction jacks 26; when these are employed, at 26. In Fig. 11 the cam path for the web holders 27 is shown at 28. The camsfor the quill butts can act thereon to ive the quills all their movements. I pre er. however. to let the butts of the hooked yarn drawing elements contact with a portion'of the quills for instance the stops. to move the quill for a part of the quills stroke. The shank of the yarn drawing element is shown as extending through and beyond the quill in' order to contact with the friction jack, but it does notdneed to extend through if the jack is not use The quill stem should be of less depth than the stem of the hooked element 50 that the yarn loops will slide on .the hooked member rather than on the thin walls of the quill, also when the needle is employed in a machine, spring bands (in the case of circular machines) may be employed to hold the hooked yarn drawing elements down in the quill and hold both in the bottom of a needle groove. in the same way that spring bands areprdinarily used in machines of the circular ,type. If the needle is used in straight bar machines of the Lamb type, the gib plates of the machine should contact the stem of the hooked yarn drawing element so as to hold it down close to the bottom of the quill stem at all times. The wear also, of the spring bands or the gib shouldcome on the needle stem and not on the thin walls of the quills.

In Fig. 6' I have shown the stem of the hooked yarn drawing element having a "V- groove 29 at the back and the quill point? (Fig. 7) is bent so as to fall into this groove, not necessarily contacting either side or bottom of the groove, but the point of the quill fits into the groove below the outer surface should extend into the stem.

needle unit.

of the stem sufliciently to insure the passage of the quill oint between the yarn fibers of the loop an the stem. It is not necessary in all cases, if any, that the qIuill point by hooked yarn drawinginember at the throat is of less depth and thickness than is customary with needles of a corresponding gage in either spring or latch needle machines. The quill in thickness and depth at the swell corresponds to the largest loop' expanding portion of an ordinary needle, as. for instance. the closed barb of a spring needle or the closed latch and hook of a latch needle and any loop of yarn large enough to pass safely over the closed beard. closed latch or the swell of the quill will hang loosely on the throat of my reduced stem of my yarn drawing member, leaving an opening in the loop of considerable size at the back of the Into this loop opening back of the needle the quill point can always safely pass, excepting possibly in stocking knitting while making gores or heel pockets, or the selvage needle when making fabrics having selvages and in these instances the opening in the loop has atendency to be drawn sidewise relative to the yarn drawing member ta e.

T have found that flatteningthe back of the stem of the hooked yarn drawing element, that is, taking away the rounded edge of the stem at the back and making the quill point to'lie flat against the stem 'is suflicient to insure the point entering theloop in ordinar knitting practice.

he specific form of my improved knitting needle herein disclosed, having been selected by me as illustrative of the features and principles underlying my invention. is not to be considered in a restrictive sense, the scope of my invention being defined by the appended claims, but I may point out that the specific form shown,-enabling penetration of the loop to take place at the back of the needle unit and initiate its spreading'or opening here where it is more or less normally open or in condition to allow the quill nose to enter, presents a material advantage in the way of certainty and ease of action and contributes to the utilization of the improved needle for work of the finest gage.

It will be noted that in dividing the old loop from the new yarn for the purpose of allowing the end of the board to position itself between them as in Fig. 4, the old loop is held in this divided off position by the swell of the quill and while the hooked member is still in movement from its posiftion of Fig. 3 to-that of Fig. 4. and this tained until the point of the hook is fully guarded by the wallsof the quill swell.

The method of knitting disclosed herein is claimed in application Serial No. 345,514, filed December 17, 1919, and the combination of the knitting instruments in a rib knitting machine is claimed in application Serial No. 305,473, filed June 20, 1919.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element. and a loop spreading element. the latter having a point to penetrate the loop at the back of the hooked yarn drawing element. and there initiate the spreading of the loop for easting over the hook,substantially as described.

2. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element and a loop spreading element. the latter having a point to penetrate the loop at the back of the hooked yarn drawing element and having also a formation following said. pointfor spreading the loop at both sides and over the point of the hook of the yarn drawing clement. substantially as described.

3. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, and a loop spreading element. the latter having a point to penetrate the loop at the back of the hooked yarn drawing element and having also a formation following said point for progressively spreading the loop for casting over the hook. substantially as described.

4. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element and a loop spreading element having a nose to penetrate the loop at the back of the yarn drawing element, thereby to initiate the loop preparing action. and inclines rising from said nose at the sides of the yarn drawing element to carry on the spreading of the loop for casting over the hook, substantially as described.

5. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, and a loop spreading and hook guarding element having the following features; a nose at the back of the yarn drawing element to penetrate the loop, inclines rising from said nose at each side of the yarn drawing element to carry on the spreadingof said loop, and guard means at the top of said inclines for receiving the hook and guarding it while the spread loop is moved thereon. subst-an-.

tially as described.

6 F A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, and a loop spreading and hook guarding element having the following features; a nose at the back of the yarn drawing element to penetrate the loop. inclines rising from said nose at each side of the yarn drawing element to carry on the spreading of said loop, and guard means at the top of said inclines for receiving the hook and guarding it while 8. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element. and a loop spreading element. the latter having a nose to penetrate the loop at the back of the hooked element, an incline formation following the nose for preparing the loop for casting over the hook. a formation for guarding the hook and an incline formation for dividing the said loop from the new yarn while the point of the hook is moving into its guarded position between said loop and yarn, substantially as described.

9. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, and a coacting element for preparing the loop for easting off. the latter element having a formation to first engage the loop apart from where it is stressed across the throat of the hooked yarn drawing element and thereafter to spread the loop at both sides and prepare it to pass the point of the hook, substantially as described.

10. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element. and a coacting element for spreading the loop for casting'ofi', the latter element having a formation to first engage the loop apart from where it is stressed across the throat of the hooked yarn drawing element, and thereafter to spread the loop by a progressive action along its sides to prepare it to pass the hook, substantially as described.

11. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element. and a coacting element for spreading the loop for easting off. the latter element having a formation .to first engage the loop apart from where it is stressed across the throat of the hooked yarn drawing element, and having inclines at the sides of the hooked element rising from the zone of first engagement with the loop to spread the loop and prepare it to pass the point of the hook, substantially as described.

12. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, and a coacting element for spreading the loop for easting off, the latter element having a formation to first engage the loop apart from where it is stressed across the throat of the hooked yarn drawing element, and having inclines at the sides of the hooked element rising from the zone of first engagement with the loop to spread the loop and prepare it to.pass the point of the hook, said lnclines terminating in a swell to guard the hook for the movement of the loop thereupon, substantially as described.

13. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, and a loop spreading element exterior to the yarn drawing element and of U-shape in cross section with the base of the U at the back of the hooked yarn drawing element. the walls of said U-shaped member havinginclined front edges rising at the sides of the hooked memher to spread the loop, and being spaced apart at the top of the inclines 'to receive and guard the hook between them while the loop 1 moves thereon, substantially as described.

14. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, and a loop spreading element exterior to the yarn drawing element and of U-shape in cross section with the base of the U at the back of the hooked yarn drawing element, the walls of said U-shaped member having inclined front edges rising at the sides of the hooked member to spread the loop and being spaced apart at the top of the inclines to receive and guard the hook between them while the loop moves thereon, the side walls of the U-shaped member in rear of the hook guarding portions having a drop to divide the old loop from the new yarn and to guard it from the hook while the latter is moving into its guarded position, substantially as described.

15. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn drawing element, a loop spreading element exterior thereto and having a terminal formation to penetrate the loop hanging on the hooked yarn drawing element, and inclines rising alongside of the hooked yarn drawing element from the loop penetrating formation to spread the loop with a guard at the top of the inclines for receiving the hook to enable the spread'loop to be moved thereupon, said guard being followed by a drop in the exterior member to divide the old loop from the new yarn while the point of the hook is moving into guarded position.

16. A knitting or crochet instrument comprising a hooked yarn-drawing element, a loop-spreading element, the loop-spreading element having capacity to spread the loop on both sides of and over the top of the hook of the said yarn-drawing element, the last mentioned element being slidably inclos'ed between two walls of the loop-spreading element. a v 1 ,17. A knitting machine needle composed of two separately slidable elements, one having a stem and a yarn engaging hook, the other being a loop spreading element having a stem and a loop spreading ortion, the first mentioned. element being s idable between the walls of the second mentioned unit, both being adapted to lie in and to be separately. slidable in a single needle groove of a knitting machine needle carrier.

18. A knitting machine needle comprising two separate elements, one having a hook serving to receive yarn for a new loop, the other having a wall at each side of and ,outside the first mentioned element with a swell serving to spread the already formed loop to allow the new loop to be drawn through the spread loop and to guard the said formed loop from contacting with theh'ook of the yarn receiving element, both instruments slidable in a single needle groove of a knitting machine needle carrier. a

19. A knitting machine or crochet needle comprising two separate elements, the first element having a stem and a hook and functioning to receive yarn fora loop, and. draw said loop through a previously formed loop, the second element having two walls exterior to the first element providing, a loop spreading swell and a throat, said element functioning to spread the said previously formed loop to allow the free passage through it of the hook and new loop, and also to hold the said previously formed loop in a predetermined position to guard it from contacting with or being engaged by the hook of the first element until the said hook is protected by the swell of the second element, the'first instrument being slidable between the two walls of the second instrument.

20. A knitting machine or crochet needle comprising two separate members, the first member having a stem and a hook and a butt, the second member having-a two walled stem, a pointed nose,- aswell, a throat, and a stop in the stem, the first member being slidable between the 'walls of the secondunem: ber and adapted to contact the stop in the second member and to thereby limit the relative movement of the twomembers and to cause the hook of the first member to register with the swell of the second member, substantially as described.

21. A knitting or crochet needle comprising two separate elements, the first element adapted to receive yarn for a new loop, the second element adapted to pick up a previously formed loop from the stem of the first element to spread the said loop to allow a new loop to be drawn through it, the second element being substantially U-shaped in cross section withthe base of the U at the back of the first element and with the first element'slidable between the walls of the second element, said second element having a pointed nose ada ted to slide along the back of the stem of t e first element and pass into the old-loop thereon, and inclined walls extending from said pointed nose along which inclined walls the loop may slide without undue abrasive action on the yarn fibers.

22. A twoelement knitting or crochet needle, one element havinga yarn hook, a stem. at throat of smaller dimension than the stem and a butt, the other element being a quill substantially U-shaped in cross section, and having the following features: a butt. a stop, a stem, a throat and a swell larger than the hook having inclined walls terminating in a pointed nose, said pointed nose adapted to slide close to the stem of the first element under the throat and to pass into a yarn loop on the first element, the throat and swell serving to hold the loop in a definite position. the hooked element being slidable inside the quill and adapted to contact the stop. thereafter both units being operative as one unit to complete the loop t'o rming movement. substantially as described.

23. A knitting machine needle comprising two distinct elements, one inside the other and adapted to operate independently and simultaneously at timesin a single groove ol a knitting machine needle carrier, one element having a yarn hook, a stem. a groove in the back of the stem, and the other element being a quill having two walls between which the hooked element instrument is slidable. the quill having a pointed nose to enter the said groove, inclined walls rising from the pointed nose terminating in a swell, said swell being higher in cross section than the hook. said pointed nose adapted to pass into a loop where it is open at the back of the stem. said swell adapted-to spread the loop to allow the hook and a new loop to be drawn through it..substantially as described.

24. A knitting machine instrument comprising two separately slidable elements adapted to operate in the same plane, one element having a yarn hook, and a stem,

' the other element being a quill in which the hooked element may slide and having a stem of substantially U-shape in cross section, having a pointed nose, a swell having two walls higher than the hook, a throat smaller than the swell, the said pointed nose adapted to pass between the yarn loop and the stem. of the first-mentioned element the swell adapted to spread the loop, and the throat adapted to hold the loop in a predetermined position while the hook is entering the swell, said ointed nose, swell and throat, being U-shaped in cross section, substantially as described.

25. A knittin machine sinker fed plating needle comprising two separate units operable in the same plane, independentl slidable and simultaneously slidable, at di ferent times in knitting, one of said units having a plating yain hook bent to such dimensions as to allow only one strand of yarnto lie against the inner side of the tip of the hook at one time and to the exclusion of another yarn lying in the same plane transversely of the needle stem, the other of said units being a quillshaped instrument operable to expand a previously formed loop to allow the two or more yarns to be drawn through it. substantially as described.

26. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn-engaging element. a quill slidably int-losing the hooked yarn-engaging element. and of U-shape in cross section. a swell thereon and a stop member between the walls of the quill. to register the hook with the swell. substantially as described.

:27. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn-engaging element. a quill slidably int-losing the hooked yarn-engaging element having a butt. said quill being of substantially U-shape in cross section at its stem and butt and astop member between the walls of the stem and the butt, substantially as described.

:28. A knitting instrument comprising a hooked yarn engaging element. a quill slidably inclosing the hooked varn-engaging element having a butt and of substantially U-shape in cross section at its stem and butt and a stop member between the walls of the stem and the butt. said yarn engaging member having a shank slidable through the space between the. stop member and the back wall of the quill, substantially as described.

29. In combination a hooked yarn drawing member. a quill member having a portion to enter and spread the loop, said quill member being of substantially U-shape in cross section, and a stop member held between the walls of the, quill member, the said hook member having a shank slidable in a space between the stop member and the back wall of the quill, substantially as described.

30. A knitting instrument com )rising a two walled quill element and a hoo ed yarn drawing element slidable between the walls of said quill and both adapted to slide in the groove of a knitting instrument carrier, each of said elements havinga butt to be engaged by a cam for operating it, said quill having a pointed'no'se to slide along the back of the hooked yarn drawing element to pass into a fabric loop, each quill also having a swell to spread the said loop and to uard it against engagement with the hoo of the yarn drawing element and to direct the stud fabric 100 onto the hook for casting off, substantial y as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix misignature.

J. FRANK WI COMB. 

